Cable T.V., the internet, and iPhones have made Hollywood accessible with just a click of a button. And, unfortunately, these type of entertainment is also readily available to our children and could very well replace the roles of parents. Many are misled by the glamorous and dysfunctional lives of celebrities and “gangsters,” tagged as “real”, that it has become difficult for our youth to recognize their value in society and behave as citizens of the world. And with both mom and dad working in this present-day family, children are left behind and are very vulnerable to negative influences. (Many boys believe that real men should walk and talk like gangsters. And many girls think that “real men” have the right to treat them badly). And, working with the youth with psychiatric and behavioral challenges, it has become apparent to me that children that have received poor, or none, parenting are more susceptible to behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and social problems.

Last week, I had the opportunity to be a positive role model at my children’s elementary school through an initiative called WatchDOGS(Dads Of Great Students), a volunteer program that encourages fathers to bring positive male influences and security back in the school environment…

Here Are a Few Tips
A good education more often than not, paves the way for a good future. Due to steep competition in most professions though, a bachelor’s degree is oftentimes not enough to secure a job or climb high-up in the corporate ladder. Going abroad for graduate school offers a student a much wider horizon, in terms of training, experience, cultural integration, even communication skills. Most employers will put a premium to these. If you’re considering graduate school, here are few tips. Bear in mind though that I can …

Photo credits here.
I received a sad news this previous week from a colleague of mine: some of our former teachers have been ill lately. Like for example, my former high school science teacher has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had mastectomy (surgical removal of breasts) already and unfortunately, the cancer has already metastasized to her ovaries and bone. Surprisingly, when I asked my former biology teacher (of whom I crossed paths last Friday), I found out that this particular science teacher of mine, despite of her illness, she still …

Barrio Siete had the privilege of interviewing Efren Peñaflorida. Here’s Mahalia’s interview: An Extraordinary Life: Exclusive Interview with Efren Peñaflorida

Efren Peñaflorida was named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year at gala show attended by Hollywood stars like actress Nicole Kidman and featured performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis. CNN’s Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida’s selection at the conclusion of the third-annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. The Tribute airs at 9 …

Image by Nature Explorer via Flickr

I read a lot of blogs. Some of them are from online celebrities and some are from my local tribe. And recently, there are around 16 blogs that don’t get updated anymore. Since I’m a curious reader, I try asking the authors on why they’re not writing anymore.
Many of these where full of energy and enthusiasm when they started but as months pass by, the energy level went down. They are very similar to a tornado. Started strong and suddenly disappears.
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I thought it was  going to be another one of those ordinary days. The Autumn season was slowly showing it’s pretty reds, oranges and faded greens and my window pane next to the study  had a rhythmic beat from the steady Fall drizzle. As my children nestled on the corner of the couch, hypnotized by the faint drumbeats produced by Dora, I went about with my daily news reading with a few clicks of my reliable mouse.
Splashed across CNN’s website was a young man who I thought looked Filipino.  A …

Photo Credits: The Future is now
Today, I give you a brief lesson in logic. Have you heard of logical fallacies? If not, I’m sure you have encountered them many times. You probably are in the habit of committing one or two yourself, hehe. Not to worry, I’ll try to make this lesson as simple as possible, walang paduguan ng ilong. And most of all, knowledge of Latin is not a prerequisite. Okay, let’s begin.
Kelan nga ba fallacious ang isang argument. Ang simpleng sagot ay kapag mali ang reasoning, hindi konek …

Pretty much, anybody who goes around the Internet a lot knows how to use a blog. But most of the time, bloggers lose sight on the two most important things in blogging. It may be unintentionally, but losing track of these two essential things lessens one’s effectiveness as a blogger.
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Okay class…tapos na yosi break natin. Resume na tayo:
So ayun…dumating sa punto na iniwan ko ang trabaho. Bitbit ang anak at isang dyip ng bagahe, I went back home. To live with my mother so she won’t kill herself and join my father in the after-life!
Yung 2 college, transfer sa city namin. Daily pamasahe, uwian. Si seaman bro, padala ng initial payment sa tuition. Ang succeding payments? Akin na ulit. Ang daily expenses, akin pa rin. Ang food at kuryente namin, akin pa rin. At kung anik-anik pa sa araw …

In barrio siete where I grew up,  I haven’t even gotten out of elementary school and yet the responsibilities on my shoulders were already heavy.
Heavy for a young girl. Heavy for an eldest daughter. Heavy for someone who’s supposed to be playing outside, but instead was locked-in,  on the study table, burning the midnight candle!
Kaya ayun, lumaki walang kilay!
I was that girl.
The eldest daughter.
The one who will get my family out of poverty.
The one who will send his younger brothers to college too.
Sa history ng barrio siete namin…I paved the …

Can I say that across the Philippines, Alumni Association is very popular amongst high school graduates or college graduates? Tama ba? Almost always, it starts with a reunion, especially pag fiesta? Nakaaa! Complete with parada. In fact, when I was still back in Manila, I organized our very first barangay high school reunion in Barrio Siete. It was such a success that it was almost like one fiesta in da Barrio. And then, somebody hits me with…
“Let’s sponsor a scholar!”
“Huh?!”
At that time, I was just one lowly salaried kinsenas at …

If you’re a regular at reyna elena dot com, you must have noticed that I love to dissect SONA and do my analintek review. Over the years, ga-wait sya nang mga students. Para kopyahin. Ang mga leche, pati ako ako napasubo sa isang titser nang isang universidad sa Manila. Pero, kiver! Typically after I digest and organize my SONA Summary, then I follow it up with my Reaction Paper.
Im fak, this morning pag-gizing ko, ganito karami ang tambay sa palasyo. Waiting for my Reaction Paper. Pwes. Eto na sya.

And …

Barrio-mates! Enough watching the stupid SONA already. Wala namang sasabihing totoo yang si PGMA. IF only I am in Manila right now…I am most probably have joined the rallies out there!
Well anyways…my news for you is that: this barrio girl is now a city-girl! Well sort of…because I nowlive in the city 5 days a week, this time in a real house!
Eto ang bagong adventure namin kahapon:
I’m typing this entry in our new home in the city. Maybe in the coming week…i will have broadband installed. I’m still using my …

Hindi pala biro…
Ang mapaltusan ng paa sa kakalakad at akyat – panaog…
Ang maubusan ng boses at mangati ang lalamunan sa kakasalita…
Ang pagtratrabaho hanggang sa unholy hours ng gabi…
Ang pagharap sa araw-araw sa ibat-ibang tao; hoping na kung ano man ang sasabihin mo sa harap ng whiteboard e sana makapasok sa kukote ng estudyante mo…
Hindi nga biro…
Ngayon ko lang naintindihan kung ano talaga ang tunay na ginagawa ng ating mga maestra, ngayon na isa na din ako sa humaharap sa whiteboard. Sa pag-asang na araw araw e may matutunan ang mga …

Mahalaga sating mga pinoy ang edukasyon, parang nagiging priority pa nga natin kesa sa relihyon. Walang masama kung mag ambisyon tayo para sating mga anak na maibigay sa kanila ang pinakamaganda at pinakamataas na antas ng pinag-aralan. Minsan nga sumosobra na ang pagpu push na ginagawa natin sa kanila, ngayon natin na realize yung ginagawa satin ng ating magulang nung araw na nayayamot na tayo minsan sa kanila na ngayon ay inaabot na rin natin sa ating mga anak.

Photo Credits: Valenzuela City: Barrio ni Malen
Sa kagustuhan kong mas mabigyan ng …

If you are reading my personal blog, then you know by now that I live in a barrio siete with my family. We live some 20-30 minutes (depends on jeepney’s speed) away from the nearest city, where my son Raine goes to school.
Five days a week, we commute daily. One good thing here is that there is no traffic. Jeepney don’t run… they all fly! The view is good to ones eyes… you see greeneries all throughout the ride. Very minimal air pollution too. What will all that green sucking …

And so, classes in most Barrio Siete and Sitis in the Philippines have opened. At bawat opening, me closing. Eto ngayon ang chorva. Life after college can be very difficult for students everywhere. You may be living in turd or pers world kawntri noh! Pero parang mas mahirap ata kung asa turd world leche land ka deba? Anjan na yong there’ll be tons and thousands of graduates like yourself but there are only “limited employment opportunities” to fill in. *Arayat* Por ejemplo, ang aking brother ay 4 years ng graduate …

Most of us will remember these topics were seen in the old historical books that landed in our laps when we were still students in our tender and younger years. *Nostalgia mode*

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One of the most beautiful things that ever happened to me coming from Barrio Siete to Barrio States was discovering the world. I was uber thankful to my payrents and my American employers who essentially gave me the opportunity to enjoy the things I love the most. Travel, meet boys people, social climb and immerse in other culture. Eh panu ba naman, lumaki akong kausap ang mga kalabaw, kalaro ang mga baboy, ka-jack-en-poy ang mga manok. But things change Virginia if you start dreaming! Nagkaron ako nang pakpak and …

“Hindi hadlang ang kahirapan, anak.”

ANG CREDENTIALS, BOW
NAKAKABALIW, NAKAKAALIW
NAKAKATAKA, NAKAKASUKA
NAKAKAGULO, NAKAKABOBO
NAKAKALOKO,NAKAKAUTO
NAKAKAGALIT, NAKAKAINIS
NAKAKAPIKON,NAKAKASIPON
NAKAKASAYA, NAKAKANTA
NAKAKATAKOT, pakalmot nga!
Nang magkaroon ng Giyera Mundial sa buladasphere tungkol sa credentials, marami ang nag-akala na ito ay isa lamang papel na tinatawag na diploma. Diyan kayo nagkakamali. Maling-mali Birhinya dahil isa lamang yon sa mga credentials. Sandali. (suklay muna sa buhok). Bagong gising lang kasi ako nang kalamapagin ako ng reyna para sumulat tungkol sa credentials. With S. Translation. May karapatan.
Ang credential ay pagpatunay kung ano ang ating gawain na binalik-balikan natin kahit tayo ay gusto nang magwala sa opisina dahil ang …